Kings Island: Fun, Fireworks and Fifty - July 26, 2022 [4K HDR]

“Some of the best times of our lives happen here in our own backyard…”

“Fun, Fireworks and Fifty” is the centerpiece of Kings Island’s 50th anniversary celebration. Largely influenced by Disney Parks’ anniversary shows, this 14 minute spectacle - a considerable increase from its usual 4 minute shows - features fireworks, immersive lighting, flamethrowers, lasers, the International Street fountains, 200 drones, and an original music score and theme song to tell the story of Kings Island.

The show begins on the night of September 6, 1971 - the final night of operations for KI’s predecessor park Coney Island. Ralph Wachs, then-President of Coney, made a promise to the sold-out crowd before the final fireworks show of its original life - that this brand new place of excitement and fun “will be more than you could ever dream an amusement park could offer.”

With the help of its multimedia toolkit, and Greg Brady himself (Barry Williams from “The Brady Bunch”) as our guide, FF+50 takes guests on an odyssey of the legacy of that promise - from its rides and seasonal celebrations, to the memorable characters that welcomed us through its gates. Its theme song, “Wonderful World of Fun” - rooted in KI’s history - aptly summarizes the guest’s feelings about Kings Island: a “place we call our own.” (Though some would make the argument that it’s a rip-off of Disney Enchantment’s “You Are the Magic.”)

Undoubtably, this is a more immersive show than I ever gave it credit for. If you look real closely, you can see the laser projections all around the International Street buildings. And if you listen carefully, you can also hear a buzzing hum during the lyric “there’s something electric in the air”, and little snips of the Peanuts gang during their segment. (Yes, you will want to watch with headphones) Some of the fountains didn’t really work at the moment of recording, and some effects changes took place between the night of the premiere and recording day.

Regardless, this show is probably the closest to a Disney-level fireworks spectacular as any theme or regional amusement park has ever created. It delivers the essence of Kings Island superbly - while it’s known for its famous world-class roller coasters (including The Beast, which just broke its own record of world’s longest wooden roller coaster by 2 feet due to refurbishment), to some, a day there could mean its iconic Blue Ice Cream; or to others, a nice jaunt on the antique cars. KI is a park that means a great deal to all who step into its gates, from as close as across the street, to as far as the other side of the country and beyond. While Cedar Fair calls Cedar Point its flagship, there’s a reason I consider KI the “Disneyland of the Midwest”.

While the park has since reverted to 5 minute nighttime shows, the usage of drones and original music (introduced into this show) remains, even after the Cedar Fair chain joined forces with the Six Flags empire. 2023’s “Adventure Awaits” celebrates KI’s bright future; 2024’s “Under the Stars” celebrates several ride anniversaries and the real ‘stars’ of KI - the guests; 2025’s untitled effort celebrates the “Magic” of KI for all who visit.

The recording of this performance includes the pre-show announcements and a jingle from the Paramount days that has always fascinated me (   • Видео  ). For some reason, they alternate between the park announcer and Williams for the same T-minus mark.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
0:00 - 15 minute announcements/“We’ll Take You Higher” jingle
1:47 - 10 minute announcements
2:19 - 5 minute announcements
3:07 - show begins

THE SHOW
3:17 - A Promise Made
4:28 - A Wonderful World of Fun
7:23 - The Characters
10:15 - The Stunts
11:14 - The Seasons
13:51 - America the Beautiful
15:13 - A Promise Upheld